BBC's 'New Creative' arts initiative unveils first collection of work
As part of its talent development scheme - 'New Creatives' - the BBC and Arts Council England have unveiled a tranche of 76 short films and audio works, that showcases the work of artists from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the arts and broadcasting.
BBC 'New Creative' unveil first bulk of work
Under BBC Arts’ Culture UK Partnership framework, New Creatives gives 500 artists aged between 16-30 the opportunity to develop their technical and creative skills.
BBC - Media Centre Clips, New Creatives
New Creatives trailer
The short films and audio works include drama, animation, comedy, spoken word, soundscapes, music and dance with topics ranging from immigration to mental health, gender, society, climate change, social media and artificial intelligence. Next weekend, BBC Four will broadcast a special programme entitled 'BBC Introducing Arts: Rhyme & Reason' that compiles a selection of the short films. A number of the films will also be available on iPlayer, including 'We Got It Easy' a film about the everyday struggles that youth in Britain endure and 'Black Fish' where a mother finds pictures of the life her son would have had if he had lived.
New Creatives - Black Fish
A grieving mother finds pictures of the life her son would have had if he'd lived.
The audio work will air on BBC local radio throughout the year. BBC Sounds listeners will also house some of the work.
The project has been assisted by the New Creatives Network of five creative media production organisations across England, who were tasked to find, nurture and showcase emerging talent.
The New Creatives hubs included Tyneside Cinema covering the North, Rural Media covering the Midlands, the Institute of Contemporary Arts covering London, Screen South covering the South East and Calling the Shots covering the South West.
Discussing the project, Lamia Dabboussy, executive editor, BBC Arts, says: “New Creatives is one of the biggest commitments to new arts talent in a generation. In partnership with Arts Council England, New Creatives, will, over two years give over 500 artists aged 16-30 the chance to develop their creative and technical skills, benefit from hands-on mentoring and have their work broadcast across BBC platforms as part of BBC Introducing Arts.
"We’re incredibly proud of what our first tranche of artists have achieved and really excited to be launching those commissions today. The arts matter: for sharing ideas and perspectives, asking important questions and for our well-being. Working in partnership with the sector, BBC Arts is committed to creating and commissioning more arts content than any other broadcaster in the UK. And now BBC Arts offers an essential and significant platform for emerging artistic talent.
Adding to this, Simon Mellor, deputy chief executive arts & culture, Arts Council England, says: “Arts Council England is committed to supporting the development of creative talent from all our communities across this country. We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to deliver on this commitment.
"New Creatives will provide a new generation of artists with opportunities to develop their creative and technical skills and reach new audiences. The 500 commissions taking place over the next two years will showcase the wealth of young creative talent currently emerging in England. We’re excited to see what audiences will make of their work as they experience it on BBC platforms and beyond over the next few years.”
Selected commissions from the first tranche of the New Creatives talent development scheme will begin to air from autumn 2019 across the BBC.